Frey elected district president

Montgomery County Commissioner John Frey was elected by his peers to be the President of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners West Central District during their annual conference last week.

It was a move that Tippecanoe County Commissioner Tom Murtaugh said was a good one. “Frey will be a great spokesperson for their district and is dedicated to improving local government.”

As district president, Frey will represent the elected county commissioners in Boone, Clay, Clinton, Fountain, Hendricks, Montgomery, Morgan, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo and Warren counties. The IACC is represented by six districts in the state. Frey will serve on the IACC’s board of directors, which determines policies and legislative goals for the association.

Frey’s vice president will be Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer. The district meeting also included discussion on current issues pertaining to county government in the district.

The elections were held during the IACC’s 2021 Annual Conference, the largest gathering of county commissioners in the state. The three-day conference included several different workshops, and breakout sessions that were designed specifically for county commissioners and their support staff. Commissioner Frey and others attended several training workshops on topics focusing on the American Rescue Plan Act Funding, 2022 legislative priorities, public relations and marketing, Indiana open door laws, mental health and addiction strategies, cyber security, road funding and more.

Indiana’s 52nd Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch was the keynote speaker for the conference. She spoke on current issues related to local government, expanding broadband through Next Level Connections Broadband Grants, improving housing needs, revitalizing travel and tourism, supporting Hoosier farmers and improving mental health and addiction programs to reduce jail overcrowding. Crouch has been a long-time partner of the IACC and is committed to improving the lives of all Hoosiers.

Indiana Senate Pro Tempore Rodric Bray and State Rep. Greg Steuerwald, Majority House Caucus Chair also spoke.

The Indiana Association of County Commissioners is a nonprofit organization established to provide the best education, leadership support, and advocacy services for our County Commissioners to strengthen their influence throughout Indiana. The objectives of the Association are: to promote cooperation of the county unit with all other units of local government, (cities, towns, township, etc.) and with state and federal agencies; and to promote improvement and efficiency in the delivery of county government services. The various functions of the IACC include serving as liaison among counties, state and federal agencies, lobbying the Indiana General Assembly on behalf of County Commissioners, as well as providing technical assistance and training to county commissioners and support staff.